The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Waltz For Debby

The song of the day for Thursday, June 12, 2025, is “Waltz For Debby.”

About This Song

“Waltz For Debby” was written by Bill Evans in 1953, while still serving in the Army.. He wrote it for his young niece, Debby, the daughter of his brother Harold. With the lyrics by Gene Lees added later, “Waltz For Debby” became a standard for jazz and popular singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Waltz For Debby” at their three-day recording session, June 10-13, 1975, for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

“Waltz For Debby, ” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

We have the live recording of “Waltz For Debby” from the Bill Evans Trio’s sessions at the Village Vanguard in June 1961, with Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums. LaFaro was killed in an automobile accident just a month later, on July 6, 1961; he was only 25 years old. His death devastated Evans, who did not perform or record until October 1961. In spite of his tragically short career, Scott LaFaro was ranked 16th on Bass Player’s Magazine list of the top 100 bassists of all time.

Scott LaFaro

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Song of the Day: Georgia Rose

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, is “Georgia Rose.”

About This Song

“Georgia Rose” was written by Harry Rosenthal, Alex Sullivan, and Jimmy Flynn for the 1921 musical revue Put and Take, with an all African-American cast.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Georgia Rose” 59 years ago today, on June 11, 1966, for the album A Time For Love. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Georgia Rose,” as well as A Time For Love, is available on Apple Music.

I found this video of an instrumental 1921 recording of “Georgia Rose” by Rudy Weidodeft’s Californians. The recording was released on an Edison Diamond Disc, as shown in the video, as well as an Edison Blue Amberol Cylinder.

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Song of the Day: Cole Porter Medley

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, is “Cole Porter Medley.”

About This Song

“Cole Porter Medley” is the recorded version of a medley of Cole Porter songs that Tony Bennett regularly did in concert in the 1960s and 1970s. The medley, which is nearly 14 minutes long, contains these Cole Porter songs:

  • What Is This Thing Called Love
  • Love for Sale
  • I’m In Love Again
  • You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To
  • Easy To Love
  • It’s Alright With Me
  • Night and Day
  • Dream Dancing
  • I’ve Got You Under My Skin
  • Get Out of Town
  • What Is This Thing Called Love (reprise)

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Cole Porter Medley” in the early 1970s, with an arrangement by Torrie Zito. Bennett had just returned from the road and wanted to finally recorded the medley, which Columbia Records was never interested in his time there until resigned. He and Zito set up a recording session and an orchestra to record the medley. Though they had set it up for the day, the first take was so good that they ended the session. Tony Bennett took the whole crew and orchestra out for a fantastic meal after that perfect take.

Cole Porter Medley” was released on 2003 on the Concord release of Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful.”

“Cole Porter Medley,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Monday, June 9, 2025, is “All The Things You Are.”

About Today

Sixty-three years ago today, on June 9, 2025, Tony Bennett performed at Carnegie Hall.

Carnegie Hall issued the invitation and Columbia Records backed him completely, including releasing a record of the concert. Tony Bennett asked his old Army buddy Arthur Penn, who had just finished filming The Miracle Worker, to help with the staging. Penn enlisted director Gene Saks to help.

Meanwhile, Bennett and Ralph Sharon were preparing for the concert. Sharon put the orchestra together and was busy writing arrangements for the two-act concert, with 40 songs. Bennett related in his book The Good Life:

Two weeks before the concert, I was in Chicago in a bistro on Rush Street called the Living Room. Ralph was rehearsing day and night in preparation for our Carnegie Hall show. The jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross were working across the street and Jon Hendricks and I ended up jamming in every joint on Rush Street. By the end of the two weeks I was ready for opening night

The concert was held on June 9, 1962. Backstage I had a healthy case of the butterflies and reflected on Sinatra’s advice about the jitters. From the minute I hit the stage all the nervousness disappeared, and I knew I was gonna nail it. I’m proud to say the concert was an absolute triumph.

My whole family was in the audience that night. I was particularly proud that my mother was there; that made me feel like a million bucks. It was the biggest night of my life. My mom couldn’t believe how far I’d come. She was sitting between Mary and Tom, and as the crowds were cheering for an encore, she kept turning to Mary and asking, “Why don’t they let Anthony go home and rest? He must be exhausted after two and a half hours of singing.” She was so precious, she meant everything to me.

The concert was, indeed, a triumph.

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All The Things You Are” live at Carnegie Hall 63 years ago on June 9, 1962. A condensed version of the concert on a 2-LP set was released in August 1962 as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall. The complete concert was released on 2 CDs in 1997.

“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the. Day: Here’s That Rainy Day

The song of the day for Sunday, June 8, 2025, is “Here’s That Rainy Day.”

About This Song

“Here’s That Rainy Day” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for the 1953 Broadway musical Carnival in Flanders, which only ran for six performances. This song, however, is quite good and has remained a popular ballad over the years. In addition to Bennett’s recording, it has also been recorded by those such as Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Steve Lawrence, Billy Eckstine and Ann Hampton Calloway. The song is also proved a favorite of jazz instrumentalists, including Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Paul Desmond and Art Pepper, among many others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Here’s That Rainy Day” in London on October 1, 1971, for With Love, released in 1972. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Here’s That Rainy Day,” as well as With Love, is available on Apple Music.